Graduate Assistant–Access, Engagement, and Exhibitions

Barnard College•New York City, NY

6d•$33•Onsite

About The Position

The Access, Engagement, and Exhibitions Graduate Assistant is a part-time, hourly staff member who will work alongside the Director of Access, Engagement, and Exhibitions and collaborate with Access Services and Archives staff to prepare, develop, and execute exhibitions projects as well as provide access to Library and Archives collections. This position focuses on exhibitions related support, reference and research assistance with special collections, as well as support for designing a digital exhibition catalog. The GA will work toward exhibition related support: Attend planning meetings with exhibiting artists; Design exhibition plans, proposals, and outreach materials; Develop, edit, and troubleshoot projects on Manifold.org —an open access digital publishing platform; Act as a core member of the installation and de-installation team for library-wide and Milstein Center exhibits; Physically monitor and maintain exhibitions; Participate in public facing events, such as tours and workshops. The GA will also participate in Library and Archives access through staffing the Library circulation desk and/or the Archives reading room, providing support to researchers through answering online, phone, and in-person reference and research questions. The Access and Engagement Department of Barnard Library provides core library services including circulation, reserves materials, collections maintenance, wayfinding, and study space. This is also the department that structures user experience of the library, through communications and outreach, exhibitions and displays, programming and public engagement. Examples of this work include stacks naming conventions and support for library signage, student-led library advisory board, workshops, and lobby exhibitions. Our annual exhibitions program in the Milstein Center and throughout the Library, offers opportunities to collaborate with academic centers to create accessible interdisciplinary experiences. Installations in the Milstein Lobby Exhibition Space provide a visible and accessible opportunity for both internal and external visitors to understand how researchers and creators in our community are engaging with profound questions in a variety of interactive modes from 3-D design and fabrication, to time-based media and movement, self publication through zines to data and computation, as well as the development and showcasing of library and archival collections. We seek to develop and facilitate exhibitions that stimulate interdisciplinary conversations, engage with contemporary issues, and invite the participation of viewers and community members from the larger community beyond the university.

Requirements

Current enrollment in a graduate program is required.
Commitment to work from August through June, with an average of 10 hours of work per week.
Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by writing samples
Demonstrated experience in one of the following: art installation, industrial design, or the creation of exhibitions and art displays.
Graphic design experience
HTML/CSS coding
Fluency with Creative Suite apps and other design software

Nice To Haves

Desire to work both collaboratively and independently
Excellent organizational, research, and communication skills
Demonstrated interest in libraries and archives, critical studies of architecture, art, art history, public history, digital humanities, science and technology, media studies, performance studies or other related fields
Experience with art installation, industrial design, or the creation of exhibitions and art display
Graphic design experience, basic coding skills (HTML, CSS), fluency with Creative Suite apps and other design software
Project management skills
Demonstrated interest in adopting practices of inclusion and accessibility to welcome all visitors
Demonstrated interest in art, art history, architecture, media production, performance, or other creative work
Demonstrated interest in libraries and archives
Ability to assist patrons with research questions

Responsibilities

Attend planning meetings with exhibiting artists
Design exhibition plans, proposals, and outreach materials
Develop, edit, and troubleshoot projects on Manifold.org
Act as a core member of the installation and de-installation team for library-wide and Milstein Center exhibits
Physically monitor and maintain exhibitions
Participate in public facing events, such as tours and workshops
Staffing the Library circulation desk and/or the Archives reading room
Providing support to researchers through answering online, phone, and in-person reference and research questions